Pending sales of 1,661 in July marked an 18.3 increase from a year ago; indicative of continued consumer interest in buying a home at today’s very attractive prices. Actual closed sales of 1,353 took a one percent dip from last July’s 1,367.

A 33.9 percent year-over-year increase in pending sales (those on which contracts are written but the sale has not finalized) demonstrates strong consumer interest in homeownership. There were 1,311 pending sales in May 2010 which increased to 1,756 this May. Closed sales went in the opposite direction, declining from 1,544 last May to 1,381 this May for a 10.6 percent drop.